Gilman v. Stevens

54 How. Pr. 197

• Court: The Superior Court of New York City
• Decided: March 15, 1877
• Status: Published

Opinion

The cause was tried before Hon. H. C. Yaw Yoest and a jury. The judge charged the jury as follows:

Van Vorst, J.

The plaintiff, gentlemen, an architect, interposes in this action two distinct claims for services,' alleged to have been performed by him in his profession, for the defendant. The first is for drawing plans and specifications, making estimates and calculating quantities, in respect to building on an addition to a building on the south side of Twenty-seventh street, and the west side of Fifth avenue, and also for superintending that work.

There is no dispute but that the plain tiff rendered this specific service. In fact, it is conceded that he drew the plans and specifications, and that he supervised the work upon the addition to the apartment-house. The evidence is that for such services the customary charge is five per cent, computed upon the cost of the building. It is established that the claim for those services has all been adjusted and paid by the defendant, with the exception of a balance of about $832, which amount the plaintiff still claims to be due and owing to him for his services in respect to the addition to the apar tm ent-house.

How, gentlemen, by the contract under which this building was erected, the contractor, Mrs. Jones, undertook to complete the work on or before the 1st of February, 1874, and. the contract, which is in writing, states that the work was to be done in a good, workmanlike and substantial manner, to the satisfaction, and under the direction, of the plaintiff, the architect, to be testified by a writing or certificate under his seal. These are significant words, gentlemen, and, doubtless, you will not lose sight of them. The duty of the plaintiff, therefore, it is quite clear, was to see to it that the building was erected, having reference now, gentlemen, to those terms that I have suggested to you as being significant. The work had' to be done in accordance with the plans, elevations, sections and specifications furnished by the plaintiff, and to his satisfaction ; and the payment to the contractor for the work as it progressed, which was to be paid in fifteen installments, was dependent, in each instance, upon a certificate in writing, to be obtained from the plaintiff, that the contractor was entitled to the specific payments. Of course, the giving of those certificates contemplated that the contractor had done the work in conformity with the plans and specifications, and to the satisfaction of the plaintiff. The plaintiff. then occupied an important and highly responsible position in-relation to this work, both to the contractor and to the defendant. It was clearly his duty to exercise proper vigilance and skill in the supervision of this work; to see that it was done in the manner contemplated by the specifications, and in a good, workmanlike and substantial manner.

The defendant claims that the plaintiff has neglected his duty in his employment, and that through such neglect she has sustained damage; and, gentlemen, this is the subject that chiefly, I may say almost exclusively, demands your attention upon this branch of the case. Was the material used of the quality required? Was the work "done in the manner contemplated by the contract—the plans and specifications ? The plaintiff gave the certificates called for, and upon their faith the defendant has paid out, as is claimed by her, the cost of the structure. Fourteen of these certificates, signed by the plaintiff, have been produced in evidence ; the last, the fifteenth certificate, is not produced according to my recollection of the case, although there has been, I believe, some evidence given with regard to the substance of its contents, from a memorandum that Mr. Gilman had.

Gentlemen, it was the duty of the plaintiff to exercise the skill and attention required of a person standing in the relation he did with respect to the materials to be used and the work to be done. Does the evidence show that he has been at fault in these respects? How, that is for you to determine. Evidence has been adduced in regard to the material used and its character, and as to the manner in which the work has been done. The painting and plastering, it is claimed, are not such as is called for; that they are defective in character and execution. Gentlemen, you and I are greatly indebted to the learned gentlemen who have tried this case with signal ability on each side; and they have called your attention to the evidence, Mr. Parsons giving you his views, going into details with regard to the points in which he says this work has not been done according to the plans and specifications, and the learned gentlemen on the other side have given you their views of the same branch of the case. Therefore, I say, I am relieved from going into detail with regard to these specific points in which it is claimed that the work has not been done according to the plans and specifications, and I am the more reluctant, gentlemen, to enter into any statement upon that point, because I am aware that it is a part of the case, entirely and exclusively within your province, and because by mentioning one subject or omitting to mention another it might be considered that I attached an undue importance to one and did not properly appreciate the importance of another. Therefore I am disposed to leave this entire matter where it properly belongs, with you, and upon you the responsibility must rest to determine it properly and correctly.

But, gentlemen, you will determine, under the evidence, how the facts are in these regards, and if the work and material were defective, then whether such defects are in consequence of, or owing to, the negligence of the plaintiff in any regard. In determining this you will doubtless consider, and it would be your duty to consider, the obligation and the duty the plaintiff assumed and the manner in which he has met those obligations and discharged the duty, and whether the defects are of such a character as by the exercise of the ordinary skill and attention of a person of his profession and in his relation they could have been guarded against and prevented.

How, gentlemen, for any deficiency, for any damage the defendant has sustained through the neglect of the plaintiff, if there be any neglect, in the superintending of this work and in giving the certificates upon which she has made payments, the plaintiff is liable and the amount of such damage should be allowed in this action to her.

The next claim of the plaintiff is for drawing plans and .specifications and for other services as an architect in regard to a building proposed to be erected on the corner of Thirty-seventh street and Fifth avenue. The building was not erected and the plaintiff’s claim therefor is, by himself, limited to two and a-half per cent instead of the full charge of five per cent for drawing the plans, &c., and three-quarters of one per cent for taking the quantities, in all amounting to the sum of $10,562. The plaintiff claimed that he performed these services, and that he did so upon the defendant’s retainer. He has been examined himself as a witness on this subject, as has also Mr. Crooks, and it is claimed by the plaintiff’s counsel that there is found in the testimony of other witnesses corroboration of the principal fact, us he claims, that plaintiff was employed by the defendant to render these specific services for which he seeks a recovery in this action growing out of the Thirty-seventh property, which was contemplated to be improved. How, in order to sustain the plaintiff’s claim for these services in respect to this Thirty-seventh street property, you are to be satisfied that he performed the work and services necessary to entitle him to the commission charged; that he performed that service which would entitle him to a commission of two and one-half per cent for drawing the plans and specifications, and three-quarters of one per cent for taking out the quantities: that he actually performed this service; that is to say, that he drew and completed the' plans and estimates, and computed the quantities for a building proposed to be erected by the defendant upon the property in question. I don’t suppose that the plaintiff himself would insist that for an immature plan, for an entrance upon a service of this character; that is, the drawing of plans and specifications, and the taking out of quantities, and the like of that, for an incomplete service in that regard he would be entitled to his full commission,' and therefore his claim is that he has rendered all the services necessary to entitle him to the full commission. Of course, the drawing of plans for a building would seem in reason to be a sort of unit, a complete thing; that there is every thing here from which the building might be erected from its foundation to the roof or the chimneys on the roof, every thing. I suppose that these papers, which are designated by the general term, plans and specifications, and drawings, and estimates, and all that, represent the complete building as far as it can be represented on paper. I think that would in reason be the construction to be put upon such an effort as is contemplated by the case. How, gentlemen, I say that you are to be satisfied that the work was done in that way substantially and .completely; in other words, that he has rendered all the service to entitle him to such a commission as that. ,

How, as the charge made by the plaintiff is upon the basis of the contemplated cost of the building, it would seem that you should be satisfied that the arrangements between the plaintiff and defendant had progressed, advanced, to the position that the expense of the contemplated building had been substantially assumed or in judgment reached, and with respect to which the plans and estimates were made or accommodated. It would seem that the cost of the improvement is an element in arriving at the amount of compensation that the plaintiff would be entitled to, or that an architect would be- entitled to, for performing these services. It must be upon the basis of the cost of the building and the completion of all the plans and specifications with regard to it. How, if that were all that belongs to this branch of the case probably you could not have a great deal of difficulty, at any rate that your determination could be more rapidly reached were it not for some other considerations which are to be noticed. But before stating that I presume, gentlemen, that I may make a general statement to you, which will doubtless be satisfactory to your reason: That parties are entitled to be paid for such work, labor and services as they have rendered to others at their request and for their advantage. That is an ordinary rule, good in morals as in law. Mow, if this work has been performed in the manner that I have described, is there any thing in this ease which relieves the defendant from paying the plaintiff’s claim?

The defendant herself has been examined as a witness, and she says, among other things, that she did not own the property. But, gentlemen, the mere fact that Mrs. Stevens did not own the property is not enough to excuse her, and I do not understand her learned counsel to advance that proposition either because she might have contemplated acquiring it for the purpose of improving it, and in that way employed the plaintiff to perform the services which he claims to have rendered; and whether she ever acquired the property or not, -it would be immaterial if she did employ him to render the service, and he rendered it at her request without any other condition as to payment. I say that the mere fact that she did not own the property herself, separated from every other consideration, would be no reason to relieve her from her obligation to pay for the work which had been performed, if it was performed at her request.

But the defendant claims, among other things, that she did contemplate acquiring the property and improving it, and it is within her evidence, it is within her claim at any rate, or that of her counsel, that this was substantially a conditional affair — it is her theory of the case, that it was the understanding that, for whatever services plaintiff performed in the immature condition in which the whole arrangement was, he was not to be paid; in other words, that he said it should cost her nothing. There seems to be no controversy, as I have already stated, about there being a balance due to Mr. Oilman for services upon the apartment-house. His claim, with regard to services upon the Thirty-seventh street house, is disputed entirely, and the defendant sets up a claim for damages. As I have stated before, if the defendant has sustained any damage through the plaintiff’s negligence, it is proper for you, and you should set off the damage she has so sustained against the claim on the Twenty-seventh street house; and if that is all there is of the case under the pleadings, she would be entitled to a judgment for any overplus of damages, if there is any in her favor. But if you come to the conclusion that the plaintiff is entitled to pay for his services, for the completion of the drawings, plans and specifications for the Thirty-seventh street house, then you may set off against both claims whatever damages, if any, you find she has sustained through the negligence of the plaintiff, if he has been guilty of any negligence (which I have already described to you in the other part of the case) you may set it off against that, and for any residue in his favor, if there is any, you should render him a judgment for such residue. I think, gentlemen, that is all it is necessary for me to say about that. This is a case of importance to the parties; it is important to the plaintiff; it is important to the defendant; and I cannot think that your labors will be protracted under the examination which the case has received at the hands of the intelligent counsel, to whom its care has been intrusted.

The plaintiff asks me to charge you, and I do charge you, 6< That an architect is only required to perform his work with ordinary ciare, diligence and skill. Ordinary or due skill means that degree of skill which men engaged in that peculiar art usually employ. It does not mean that high degree of skill which belongs only to a few men of extraordinary endowments and capacity.”

“ That the burden is upon the defendant to establish that the plaintiff did not exercise ordinary care, diligence and skill in his superintendence of the building, and that unless the jury are satisfied that the plaintiff did not exercise ordinary care, diligence and skill in such superintendence, the plaintiff is entitled to recover for his services as architect for the addition to the Stevens house, so called.”

“ That the mere fact that the plaintiff introduced or recommended Jones to defendant, or recommended defendant to employ Jones, does not make the plaintiff responsible ih this action for the intemperance or other misconduct of Jones.”

“ That for any misfeasance of Jones in the matter of the contract, Jones himself, or Mrs. Jones, or her surety alone, is responsible.”

“ That the defendant, not having set up any defense of fraud or collusion between plaintiff and Jones in her answer, the jury are not to consider that as a question in the case.”

With respect to. that, I say that that question of absolute fraud is not involved in this action. The question is whether plaintiff has neglected his duty as superintending architect to the defendant’s injury. If there was any eollulusion between Jones and the plaintiff, it has no bearing otherwise than as it affects the manner in which the plaintiff discharged his duty to the defendant, and whether any negligence grew out of it to her injury.

“ That for any delay in the completion of the contract, and for any damages arising therefrom, the plaintiff is in no case responsible. For any damage in this regard the defendant has her remedy on the contract.” With respect to that, I say that is so, unless the delay was in some way the result of the plaintiff’s negligence in superintending, and could have been avoided by the exercise of ordinary care on his part; and that if there is any liability for damages flowing from it, it would be the' approximate damage flowing from such a neglect of duty.

“ That if the jury are satisfied the plaintiff did not exercise ordinary care, diligence and skill in the superintendence of the addition to the Stevens house, then the defendant is entitled to such damages as were occasioned thereby, and such damages are the costs of making the work a good job according to the requirements of the contract.” ’ That is so in regard to those particular matters. If it be in that condition that this request contemplates, or assumes that the cost of making the work a good job according to the contract would be the measure of damages, and I do not understand the learned._ counsel for the defendant even to dissent from that, judging from the manner in which he has conducted that branch of the case, because the defendant’s counsel has introduced evidence with regard to these particular points, to show what it would cost to make the premises according to the plans and specifications, or to render them in a good and workmanlike condition in the particulars referred to there.

“That there is no evidence of any loss of tenants or any loss of rent, or that the house, for all purposes for which it was intended, did not fully answer the object intended.” Now, gentlemen, I do not myself remember that there is any •evidence of any loss of rents. My impression is the other way, that there is no such evidence; but it is for you, entirely, to pass upon the other question embraced in this; whether the buildings did not fully answer the object intended, that is for you to determine under the evidence.

“ That as to the charge for preparing the plans respecting the Thirty-seventh street lots, if the jury believe that the defendant did authorize the preparation of said plans, the plaintiff is entitled to recover his fees for such -services.” This assumes that he rendered the services at her request, or for her advantage.

“That the fees for preparing such plans, if payable at all, are two and a-half per cent on the value of the contemplated building.” That is correct. I suppose you desire to add the three-fourths of one per cent; you do not say any thing about that.

Mr. Peckham — We do not desire to.

The Court — I charge you that the fees, if payable at all, are two and a-half per cent upon the contemplated cost of the building. There seems to be no controversy that those are the rates that architects are entitled to recover in cases of this character.

A Juror — I would ask if that does not cover working plans %

The Court— Yes. The next one is:

“ That whether the defendant did or did not own, or had or had not elected to take the Thirty-seventh street lots is not decisive of plaintiff’s right to recover or of the defendant’s liability to pay. If the defendant ordered the plans to be drawn it was not for the plaintiff to inquire whether or not the defendant had any interest in the ground.”

“ That the defendant not having paid any of the bills for extras, cannot claim any damages in respect of such extras.” Whether she has paid or not for extras is not the question. If she is liable to pay that is enough.

“ That from any damages to which the defendant may have shown herself to be entitled, is to be deducted the value of the extra work for which she has not paid.” That I decline to charge in that form. I charge this:

“ That Mrs. Stevens is chargeable with the knowledge of the standard and regular rates of architects’ fees as asked for by Mr. Gilman on the Thirty-seventh street hotel, because it appears that she had been charged the same rates by Mr. Gilman in several previous jobs.” So much, gentleman, for the request of the plaintiff.

Mr. Peokham — I ask your honor to charge, that the details technically so called, are not claimed or called for in the charge of two and a-half per cent. One per cent additional is allowed on the schedule for the technical details, which the juror calls the working drawings.

The Court—I charge that.

Mr. Towhshehd excepts to those parts of the charge where plaintiff’s requests are not charged.

Defendant’s counsel accepts the charge itself but excepts separately to the charge, so far as it concerns the request of the plaintiff on various subjects.

Verdict for the plaintiff $3,000.